The Minority-Serving Institutions Data Project is a research and resource initiative with the mission to advance greater understanding of Minority-Serving Institutions and their unique contributions to postsecondary education.

The MSI Data Project aims to provide historical and current data on MSIs, in order to serve as a resource for research, institutional practice, advocacy, and policymaking by the greater MSI community. Our data is open and accessible to the general public at large, and datasets are free for viewing and download. We encourage those who are interested and invested in the success of MSIs to utilize our data to support and inform their work.

Our Team

Mike Hoa Nguyen, PhD
Director & Principal Investigator

Dr. Mike Hoa Nguyen is Associate Professor of Education at the UCLA. His research examines the benefits and consequences of public policy instruments in expanding or constraining the operations of colleges and universities, with a specific focus on federal diversity initiatives. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Nguyen served as a senior staff member in the United States Congress and during the Biden-Harris Administration, he was appointed to the first-ever Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions Federal Advisory Council at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Nguyen earned his PhD and MA from UCLA, and his BA from UC Berkeley.

Sophia Laderman, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Sophia Laderman is the Chief Policy and Research Officer at the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Prior to her role in state government, she was the Associate Vice President at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO). Dr. Laderman’s research focuses on the development and implications of state and federal higher education policies and the public benefits of higher education. She earned her PhD from the University of Denver and was an NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellow.

Joseph Ramirez, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Joseph Ramirez is the Institutional Research and Assessment Associate at the California Institute of Technology. He also served as the Interim Director for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Fullerton College. In these roles, he analyses and visualizes data, collaborates on program assessments, and advances data literacy and training in support of the College’s operations, decision-making, and equity efforts. Prior to his graduate school experiences, Dr. Ramirez worked at Princeton University, serving in different departments as an admission officer, capital giving officer, and program coordinator. Dr. Ramirez earned his PhD and MA from UCLA and his AB Princeton University.

Kelsey Heckert
Principal Investigator

Kelsey Heckert currently serves as a Data Manager at State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) since June 2019 where she contributes to various data-heavy projects to optimize for quality and efficiency. Previously, she worked for the State of Michigan’s Center for Educational Performance and Information where she led on secondary, postsecondary, and workforce outcomes reporting.

Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, PhD
Faculty Fellow

Dr. Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza is an Assistant Professor at California Lutheran University. Her research revolves around equity implications of racial and institutional classifications in higher education, with a focus on Minority-Serving Institutions and race data. Dr. Espinoza earned her PhD in Higher Education and a Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation and Assessment from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She was a community college transfer student from Long Beach City College to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she earned her BA in Biology, BA in Anthropology, and MEd in Educational Administration.